I HAVE, over the past few weeks, read with interest the original news item and the subsequent letters, commenting on Cllr Harkin's proposal to change Bolton's name.

While the letters against the proposal (of which there seem to be many!) highlight many "cons", none of them illustrate my absolute disgust at the proposal, and so I felt I had to write.

My grandmother worked in a mill, as did her family before her (some of the products that were produced were later donated to Bolton Museum). My grandfather produced ammunition at Hick Hargreaves' during the war; his father was a well-known policeman around Bolton, and his photograph can be seen in some of the history books. My husband's family moved down to Lancashire some 38 years ago (from Scotland) to work in the cotton mills; and this is just a brief history of my family.

As I hope you can see, my family has a deep-seated root in Bolton and I consider myself a true Lancashire Lass. So I think your readers would understand that Cllr Harkin's proposal is, to me, extremely hurtful. Bolton's problems are no greater than any other town in this country, and so I am proud of its history and heritage, and, frankly, if Cllr Harkin is not, he should clear out and leave it to the rest of us. The history of a place is what makes it what it is and he can't change that by changing its name.

As voters, we don't put our councillors in office to come up with time-wasting, money-wasting ideas like this. Westhoughton Council has just been quoted £1000 per sign to renew the Westhoughton signs (seven in total on its borders, equalling £7000). So how many would that be for every Bolton border?

Kathy Gee

Pinfold Close

Westhoughton